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Related Experiment Videos

Direct Quantification of Aspergillus niger Spore Adhesion in Liquid Using an Atomic Force Microscope.

Bowen1, Lovitt, Wright

  • 1Centre for Complex Fluids Processing, Department of Chemical and Biological Process Engineering, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, United Kingdom

Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|August 5, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Atomic force microscopy quantified adhesion between Aspergillus niger spores and mica. Specific spore surface interactions, not just electrostatic forces, significantly influence adhesion, offering new insights for low-adhesion material development.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Surface Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Understanding microbial adhesion is crucial for various applications, including biomaterial development and infection control.
  • Aspergillus niger spores are common airborne fungi with implications in health and industry.
  • Quantifying adhesion at the single-cell level provides fundamental insights into spore-surface interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly quantify the adhesion forces between single Aspergillus niger spores and mica surfaces.
  • To investigate the influence of electrostatic interactions (pH and ionic strength) on spore adhesion.
  • To explore the role of specific spore surface features in adhesion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) with a custom

Related Experiment Videos

  • spore probe
  • technique, immobilizing single spores on AFM cantilevers.
  • Measured adhesion forces by analyzing force-distance curves during spore retraction from mica surfaces.
  • Conducted experiments in NaCl solutions varying pH and electrolyte concentrations.

    • Main Results:

    • Adhesion forces were directly quantified using the AFM spore probe.
    • Decreasing pH increased adhesion, indicating a contribution from reduced electrostatic repulsion.
    • Adhesion magnitude did not correlate with ionic strength variations, suggesting electrostatic forces are not the sole determinant.
    • Specific interactions involving spore surface appendages and protrusions play a significant role in adhesion.

    Conclusions:

    • The AFM spore probe is a valuable technique for studying single spore-surface interactions.
    • Adhesion of Aspergillus niger spores to mica is influenced by both electrostatic factors and specific surface interactions.
    • This method can aid in the fundamental study of spore adhesion and the development of materials with reduced adhesion properties.